Equations · equation
Geodesic Equation
General Relativity · 1915
- Equation
- d²x^μ/dτ² + Γ^μ_αβ·(dx^α/dτ)(dx^β/dτ) = 0
- Field
- General Relativity
- Named After
- Albert Einstein
- Symbols
- x^μ position in spacetime · τ proper time along the worldline · Γ^μ_αβ Christoffel symbols, the local record of spacetime curvature
- Year
- 1915
Significance
There is no force of gravity — falling things simply follow the straightest possible line through curved spacetime. Planetary orbits, the bending of starlight, and your fall off a ladder are all the same statement: mass tells spacetime how to curve, and this equation is how spacetime tells matter to move.
Referenced by
equation
theory
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